CEO of Louisiana hospital's fundraising arm fired after embezzlement probe

Ayla Ellison -

The long-time president and CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Foundation, the fundraising arm that supports Baton Rouge, La.-based Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, was fired after a third-party investigation revealed "a pattern of forgery and embezzlement of funds," according to The Advocate.

John Paul Funes, who led several multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns for the hospital, headed the foundation for more than 10 years.

"We are shocked and appalled at what we have learned," Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center said in a statement. "Our Lady of the Lake Foundation is integral to our healing ministry and helped us reach so many important goals that would have been unattainable otherwise."

The hospital declined to release additional details pending the criminal investigation, according to the report.

"Mr. Funes' actions in no way represent the values and mission of the Our Lady of the Lake and the Foundation, and the hundreds of volunteers and donors who have given so much over the years," the hospital's statement reads.

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